Ramón Brito is a handicapper with more than 25 years of experience who is part of the DRF en Español team as a commentator, handicapper, editor, and columnist.
Below are Brito's picks for the most important races on Friday’s Everest Day card at Royal Randwick.
Unbeaten in two starts this year, Danon Decile has struggled to gain respect in Japan’s 3-year-old division.
The winner of the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in a major upset in May, Danon Decile did not race over the summer and will have his comeback in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse.
By Leo Schlink
Bracing for a busy weekend with prize rides in Hong Kong and Sydney, Brenton Avdulla is wary and excited ahead of a raceday reunion with California Spangle in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 October).
Avdulla will partner California Spangle for the first time since last season when the pair combined for elite success in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 10 March and the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on 30 March.
One of the races that has generated great expectations on the Everest card at Royal Randwick in Australia is the Group 1, $3.3 million King Charles III Stakes, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that goes as the ninth race of 10. The field of 12 is topped by Pride of Jenni, Australia’s Horse of the Year for 2023-24.
A pair of lightly raced 3-year-olds face the prospect of heavy going in the Champion Stakes on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse.
Calandagan, a French 3-year-old, couldn’t race two weekends ago in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe because he’s a gelding and instead squares off against England-based 3-year-old Economics in the Group 1, $1.69 million Champion, the last of four Group 1 races Saturday at Ascot and the last Group 1 of the European flat-racing season outside a couple of 2-year-old contests.
By Declan Schuster
Karis Teetan knows what it takes to win the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) and the affable Mauritian has the chance to land a second aboard the John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon (20 October).
Nine years on from his scintillating success aboard champion Able Friend in the 2015 Premier Bowl, Teetan reflects on the hulking chestnut’s demolition job of star sprinters, in what eventuated as the Shamardal gelding’s final win of his distinguished racing career in Hong Kong for former trainer John Moore.
Traffic Warden may be the spoiler in the Group 1 Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.
On three occasions in his nine-race career, Traffic Warden has closed with a flourish to win sprints. Twice, he has been beaten by a nose or short head.
With that style, Traffic Warden may be the runner to fear in a wide-open running of the $13.3 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs, the world’s richest sprint.
